Councillor Jo Lawson

Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 as to Changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and Protecting Pensioners from Fuel Poverty

From: Council - Wednesday 18th September 2024 5.30 pm - September 18, 2024

Recommendations Approved

Kirklees Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024 - 2029 & Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy 2024

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 10th September 2024 1.30 pm - September 10, 2024

The Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy are both scheduled to be considered for approval at Cabinet on 10th September 2024.   The Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024 – 2029 will enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duty to formulate and publish such a strategy every five years.    The Strategy will also provide a framework for service development, resource prioritisation and partnership support, and thereby enhance outcomes for Kirklees residents who are vulnerable to or facing homelessness.   The Kirklees Housing Solutions Service Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy sets out how homeless households will be prioritised for temporary accommodation, both inside and outside of the district.   The Council’s current Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy runs 2018 – 2023: Kirklees Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2018 - 2023 and was approved by Council on 17 July 2019.   Extensive consultation has taken place with partners and key stakeholders, who have been instrumental developing the priorities and objectives in the Strategy.   In preparing this strategy and developing its priorities and objectives,  engagement has taken place with a number of key stakeholders, including:   ·       Kirklees Homelessness Forum (KHF) ·       Registered Providers ·       People with lived experience of homelessness ·       Kirklees Health Inclusion Group (KHIG) ·       Colleagues from across the Council, including Homes and Neighbourhoods, Children’s and Adult Services ·       MHCLG specialist homelessness advisor   Key internal stakeholders have been consulted on both the Policy and the Strategy in the development process.  

Recommendations Approved

Kirklees Major Transport Capital Schemes; Annual Report 2024

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 10th September 2024 1.30 pm - September 10, 2024

To provide an update on delivery and governance of the Council’s major capital transport infrastructure projects and seek the delegated authorities required to progress delivery.   Engagement is a key part of the development of these projects and will continue through various stages as part of our quality assurance process. Many of the projects are now at stage where much of the general consultation is complete.    

Recommendations Approved

Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2024-2027

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 10th September 2024 1.30 pm - September 10, 2024

The Council is under a statutory duty under the Public Sector Equality Duty to publish one or more equality objectives every four years. To date we have fulfilled this requirement through our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Strategy.   The proposed strategy sets out the three elements of our role as a Council with inclusion and diversity:    1.     Compliance: how we comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010  2.     Ambition: how we achieve our ambitions for inclusion as an organisational value (as set out in the Council Plan) and create an inclusive culture and support a diverse workforce and district 3.     Partnership: how we enable inclusion more broadly in Kirklees   The new strategy builds on the learning and progress made in previous strategies and sets out priorities that support a wide set of outcomes for communities in Kirklees and our workforce.   The existing Inclusion and Diversity Strategy is available at Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2021-2023 | Kirklees Council (https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/delivering-services/inclusion-and-diversity-strategy.aspx)   An enhanced engagement process has taken place with both internal and external stakeholders, who have been instrumental developing the priorities and objectives in the Strategy. As a broad strategy which touches on many services and programmes across the organisation, internal stakeholders have included all departments which are referenced in the strategy objectives and members of our staff network groups / employee reference groups. External stakeholders have included KiNETIC, North Kirklees Interfaith Forum, The Brunswick Centre, Support2Recovery and Third Sector Leaders.   The enhanced engagement and consultation process has allowed for a multiplicity of views and experiences to be incorporated into this strategy. External stakeholders provided feedback on topics such as experiences of disabled people in Kirklees, loneliness and a lack of social connectedness in LGBTQ+ communities, and the impact of poverty on young families.  

Recommendations Approved

Damp, Mould and Condensation Policy

From: Cabinet - Tuesday 10th September 2024 1.30 pm - September 10, 2024

Introduction and approval of a new damp, mould and condensation policy.     Engagement has been carried out formally with the Tenants and Leaseholder Panel (TLP). Feedback has been positive regarding the change in approach and the focus on ensuring residents’ safety is at the core of the process. The improved methods of communication with residents were identified as a significant improvement.  The panel have commented that some of the language in the suite of letters to residents should be reviewed to ensure it is collaborative and that they are written in ‘plain English’ These recommendations have been accepted, and the changes will be implemented by the Communications team as part of the communication strategy.   

Recommendations Approved